Hurkacz Marches On
Pole Hubert Hurkacz only earned one win on clay in 2021. However, he has already doubled that record in 2022 at his first clay-court event of the season, defeating Pedro Martinez 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to reach the third round at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
In a strong serving display, the 11th seed fired 11 aces and won 83 per cent (43/52) of points behind his first delivery to advance after two hours and 14 minutes.
Hurkacz, who went 1-4 on clay last season, now leads World No. 45 Martinez 1-0 in their ATP Head2Head series and will next play Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz improved to 19-6 on the season, moving past Croatain Marin Cilic 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in two hours and 16 minutes. The 10th seed, who is making his third appearance in Monte Carlo, has now equalled his best run at the tournament, after also advancing to the third round on debut in 2019.
Fritz moves to 2-1 in his ATP Head2Head series against Cilic and will now play Sebastian Korda in the last 16.
David Goffin continued his strong form by overcoming 2021 Monte Carlo semi-finalist Daniel Evans 7-6(3), 6-2. The Belgian lifted the sixth tour-level title of his career on the clay in Marrakech last week and is backing it up in the South of France.
The World No. 47, who advanced to the semi-finals at the ATP Masters 1000 event in 2017, will meet Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round.